FAMOUS SURGEON DEAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19993, 9 November 1927, Page 15

FAMOUS SURGEON DEAD

MR THELWALL THOMAS A FAMOUS WELSHMANMr W. Thelwall Thomas, probably the most famous surgeon Liverpool has produced, died very suddenly on Saturday, September 9. Mr Thomas, who was well known in North Wales, was born in Liverpool in 1865, his father being the late Mr John Thomas, also of this city. He received his early scholastic training at the Liverpool Institute and afterwandis studied medicine in Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the University College of Liverpool. The late Sir William Mitchell Banks was one of the dominating personalities at the Liverpool School of Medicine in those days, and it was not long before Mr Thomas, who from the first was brilliantly successful in his studies, was assisting the famous surgeon as demonstrator of anatomy. It had been his first intention to pursue general medical practice, but perceiving, with the keen apprehension which was always one of his most notable characteristics, the great advances which were being made in surgery' he decided to devote himself entirely to that branch of his profession. He established himself first of all in Hope Street, but his skill and judgment quickly earned for him such a reputation that before long he had removed to Rodney Street, that great centre of the medical profession. Mr Thomas owed his rapid advance in no small degree to the skill and aptitude with which he applied himself to ex- ’ tending the possibilities of abdominal surgery which, in recent years, ’has assumed such remarkable importance. While he was assistant surgeon at the Royal Infirmary Mr Thomas was ap-

pointed Lecturer in Practical Surgery at the University, and from 1913 to 1922 was Professor of Regional Surgery. He was president of the Liverpool Medical Institute»l9lB-19. Among his professional colleagues Mr Thomas was greatly liked for his personal qualities as he was admired and respected for his splendid abilities. When his younger confreres went to him for counsel, they invariably found him extremely pleascri; to assist them, and the genial directness of his manner made him a popular and successful instructor of the Liverpool medical students. Two years ago, when he retired from the official post as consulting surgeon of the Royal Infirmary, Liverpool surgeons presented him with his portrait.

In his own surgical practice, the extent and importance of which was not surpassed by any other provincial surgeon, -one of the circumstances which chiefly distinguished his methods was his amazing rapidity of decision. His brother surgeons always spoke of him as a man who was astonishingly quick in making up his mind what to do even in the most difficult cases, and this habit of quick and confident decision was partnered with equal rapidity and certainty in operative skill. If, in the course of a delicate operation, some unforeseen development occurred, he never Appeared to be taken by surprise. He. was always full of resource and dealt effectually with the unexpected difficulty as soon as it arose.

When the British Medical Association visited Liverpool in 1912, he was general secretary of the meeting, and at the Brighton meeting in 1913 he filled the presidential chair of the surgical section. He was author of many surgical books and contributions, the chief being 4 4 The Demerits of the Foot in the Axilla Method of Reduction of Shoulder Dislocations,” "An operation for Umbilical Hernia,” 4 4 Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Abdominal Conditions. 44 Diagnosis and Treatment of Internal Derangement of Knee Joint,” 44 Diagnosis and Treatment of Kidney and Ureter Calculi,” "Surgical Shock,” and 44 An Operation for Haemorrhoids.”